Nazi flag fetches $100 from Treasure Hunters
Published 10:29 am Friday, December 9, 2011
FRANKLIN—A collector of memorabilia, Steven Halstead on Wednesday sold a Nazi flag for $100 and two Nazi daggers for $175 each to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow during its five-day stop in Franklin.
Steven Halstead waits to get a $100 check for selling a Nazi flag to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow. -- Gwen Albers | Tidewater News
“I don’t need two flags and 17 daggers,” the Franklin resident said.
The Treasure Hunters Roadshow will not televise its visit to Western Tidewater, but will continue buying items from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Dec. 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Comfort Inn on Armory Drive. Items of interest include pre-1970 coins, historical documents, military items, vintage guitars, coloring books, sports memorabilia, jewelry, dolls, toys, paintings and more.
Field buyers like Shawn Robinson and Mike Kirchgesner research the value of items based on the current market, Internet and collector values.
“I’m sending a picture of a German flag to our researchers to see what kind of value is on it,” Kirchgesner said, referring to Halstead’s flag, which the 55-year-old acquired while in Europe with the Coast Guard in 1992.
“With common items, we can come back quickly (with a value),” Kirchgesner said.
The Roadshow will set a price and if the seller agrees, a check is issued.
Other things brought to the Roadshow by residents were Russian military medals and four gold coins that fetched $1,300.
“They (the coins) were from the early 1900s and he was looking to sell them,” Kirchgesner said. “He was surprised (at the value).”
He noted that in Virginia he sees more Confederate memorabilia than in any other state.
“Nine out of 10 are real (here), but when we go to the Western states, nine out of 10 are reproduction items,” Kirchgesner said.
Bill Davis of Courtland was thrilled to fetch $55 for silver Australian shillings with a face value of $5.
“They were from my Daddy when he was in the Navy,” the 54-year-old said. “They’ve been stored at home for 55 years and date back to 1941 and 1942.”
Davis also sold some original Hasbro G.I. Joe action figures and Matchbox cars.
“I want to get rid of some old stuff around home,” he said.
Halstead also had an insurance policy on a ship that dated back to 1863. The premium included a 3 percent surcharge in case the ship was captured as the result of Confederate action, he said. Halstead got $100 for the document.
